Accessory device for bathtubs



Dec- 3, 1963 J. H. KoRNBLlTH ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS Filed Aug. 23, 1962 INVENTOR. J'oHN H Kom/HUM /7 TTORA/f Y United States Patent O 3,112,714 ACCESSQRY DEWCE FR BATHTUBS llohn H. Kornblith, RR. 1, Box 297, onnd Ridge, NX. Filed Ang. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 219,927 2 Claims. (Cl. 19g-27) This invention relates to a table-type of device utilized as an accessory in conjunction with a bathtub for support of an infant or small child during the operation of dressing a child after a bath and/ or for the support of various articles utilized in bathrooms in the provision of added table space to the room. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described, having, at sides thereof, projecting guard rails with handgrip openings therein facilitating handling of the device. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described employing an adjustable retaining element for securely positioning the device upon the upstanding sides of a bathtub.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FlG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a bathtub and its relationship to two walls of a room, the latter being illustrated, in part, in section and showing one of my improved devices positioned on the bathtub, the device being shown partially in section and omitting the usual forcets and the like from the water delivery end of the bathtub in order to simplify the present illustration.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section substantially on the line 2--2 of FIG. l, with parts of the construction broken away and with parts shown in elevation; and

FIG. 3 is a partial section on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, I have diagrammatically shown at 1li the outline of a bathtub, the water delivery end 11 of which is positioned adjacent a wall of the bathroom, indicated in partial section at 12. At 13 is also illustrated, in part, in partial section another or back wall with respect to the upstanding back wall 14 of a bathtub, the front exposed wall of the bathtub being illustrated at 15. To definitely associate the delivery end, the drain is diagrammatically seen at 16. The other end wall of the bathtub is illustrated, in part, on the dotted line 17.

At 18 I have shown one of my improved accessory devices, comprising a table portion 19, preferably oblong and rectangular in form, the table portion having upstanding guardrail sides 20 of similar construction. These guardrails have, substantially centrally of their length, elongated nger or handgrip openings, as clearly illustrated at 21 in FIG. 1 of the drawing and one of which is illustrated, in part, in FIG. 2. Integrally fixed upon the lower surface of the table 19, preferably adjacent one end thereof, is an elongated bearing 22, generally U-shaped in cross-sectional form to provide a channel 23 extending longitudinally thereof. A winged clamp screw 24 is mounted in the bearing 22, as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, At 25 have shown an adjustable L-shaped retaining element, comprising one long leg 26, generally of the cross-sectional contour of the channel 23, as clearly noted in FIG. 3 of the drawing, and a wider leg 27, the latter preferably having a rubber or other friction facing 2S on the outer surface thereof adhesively or otherwise secured to the leg 27, the facing being preferably em- ICC ployed to establish a firm grip upon the inner surface 15 of the wall 15 of the bathtub, as clearly illustrated in PEG. 2 ot the drawing. The screw 24 is adapted to retain the element 25 in adjusted positions to compensate for variances in widths of bathtubs or in varied distances in spacing of the wall 1S from the wall 13 of the room. In this connection, it will be apparent, from a consideration of 2 of the drawing, that one of the end edges of the table 19, for example, the edge 19', as shown in FlG. 2, is adapted to abut the wall 13; whereas, the opposed edge will assume a position somewhere upon the wall 15 of the bathtub or, in some instances, might extend beyond the outer surface of said wall, the device being made of a width to accommodate variances in the spacings in question. By providing a reasonably wide leg 27, a secure bracing and positioning of the device on the bathtub, in combination with the engagement with the wall, will be accomplished, it being understood, in this connection, that the bearing 22, as well as the element 25 are positioned substantially centrally between the guard rail sides of the table 19.

The device can be formed in any desired manner, for example, of molded plastics or lightweight metals, or the device can be formed of the combination of wood and other metal strips or sheets suitably secured together in any desired manner and this also deals with the formation of the element 25 constituting part of the complete device.

lt will be understood that the table 19, intermediate its open ends, can be of any desired contour, particularly in specialized uses of the device but, for general storage and use purposes, the flat table will be most desirable.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bathtub accessory device comprising a table of a length substantially equal to the width of a bathtub, said table having raised guard rails extending the full length of the table, end portions of the table being adapted to rest upon raised side walls of the bathtub in support of the device on the upper surface of the bathtub, means on the device adjustably engaging one raised side wall of the bathtub for retaining the device against transverse displacement, said means comprising an element generally L-shaped in form adapted to engage the wall of the bathtub, said element having a long leg and a wide leg, a U-shaped bearing centrally between the sides of the table and extending longitudinally ofthe table at one end thereof and in which said long leg is adjustably mounted, means mounted in said bearing engaging said long leg to secure the same in adjusted position, and said wide leg having a rubber facing to engage the surface of the bathtub wall.

2. A device as defined in claim l, wherein the guard rail sides of the device have centrally thereof handgrip portions fashioned from the material of said guard rail sides for convenient handling of the device.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,296,075 Grannis Mar. 4, 1919 1,296,238 Vanderhoof Mar. 4, 1919 1,358,680 Lilly Nov. 9, 1920 1,427,598 Jackson Aug. 29, 1922 1,513,440 Wirt Oct. 28, 1924 2,142,263 Bentz Jan. 3, 1939 2,55 3,366 M'adlena June 26, 1951 

1. A BATHTUB ACCESSORY DEVICE COMPRISING A TABLE OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF A BATHTUB, SAID TABLE HAVING RAISED GUARD RAILS EXTENDING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE TABLE, END PORTIONS OF THE TABLE BEING ADAPTED TO REST UPON RAISED SIDE WALLS OF THE BATHTUB IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVICE ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BATHTUB, MEANS ON THE DEVICE ADJUSTABLY ENGAGING ONE RAISED SIDE WALL OF THE BATHTUB FOR RETAINING THE DEVICE AGAINST TRANSVERSE DISPLACEMENT, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ELEMENT GENERALLY L-SHAPED IN FORM ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE WALL OF THE BATHTUB, SAID ELEMENT HAVING A LONG LEG AND A WIDE LEG A 